Automatic grain-scale



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. LOCHER.

- AUTOMATIC GRAIN SCALES. No. 399,678. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

INVENTOR (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. LOOHER.

' AUTOMATIC GRAIN SCALES. No. 399,678. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES LOOIIER, OF DEOATUB, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC GRAIN-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,678, dated March19, 1889.

Application filed May 1, 1888- Serial No. 272,480. (No model.)

T0 (0 whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, JAMES LOOHER, a resident of the city of Decatur,county of Macon, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Grain-Scales, of which the following isa specifieation.

My invention is adapted to be used in elevators, mills, or wherever itis desired to antomatically weigh a continuous flow of grain; and itconsists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts,as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,Figures 1, 2, and are end views of my device, and Fig. at is aperspective view of the weight for the scalebeam. Fig. 1 represents thedevice as it appears after a discharge has been effected and the partsreturned to position. Fig. 2 shows how the flow of grain is limited justprevious to a discharge, and Fig. 3 shows how a discharge is effected.

The chute Z) below hopper a forms permanent pivotal points of suspensionfor the bivalvular cut-off and flowregulator c c. Legs d (Z on thecut-off co-operate with roller e on arm f to regulate the flow of grainthrough the cut-off. The bivalvular weighing-receptacle i i is swung inthe bifurcate end g of the scale-beam, and is connected with the cutoffby means of arms h h, which are slotted at h h to permit a limiteddegree of independent motion 011 pins u u. The weight comprises twocircular disks separately secured on an axial rod, the disks beingindicated by 7c and the rod by 7;. The disks are internally grooved orrecessed to admit the projecting ends of the axle of sheave I, whichruns on the curved extension g of the scale-beam and supports theweight.

g represents the termination of the scalebeam projected at approximateright angles to the generaldirection of the beam.

8 is an adjustable bolt in the projection g", and t are set-nuts forsaid bolt.

The device is supported by uprights o 0. One of a pair ofpivot-supporting brackets is shown at 13. (See Fig. 2, where a supportis broken away to expose the bracket.)

In Fig. 2 is also seen the preliminary pivot "r and the true pivot q ofthe scale-beam. Incline m tends to throw the weight 71 away from thefulcrum as the beam descends. Incline it provides a way down which theweight may roll until arrested by stop 72.

\Vith the device in the position shown in Fig. I the weighing-receptaclefills rapidly until the scale-beam swings on pivot r and permits theparts of the cutoff to swing one toward the other. \Vhcn the fulcrum ofthe beam is shifted to pivot q, the descent of the weighing-receptacleis checked, leaving the roller 6 between the legs of the cut-off, asshown in Fig. 2. The receptacle will now fill slowly until thescale-weight overbalanced, when the roller will pass from between thelegs, the flow will be cut off, and the receptacle will descend andopen,as shown in Fig. 5. The force exerted through arms 71 72 in openingthe receptacle tends to check the downward motion thereof. To neutralizethis tendency and insure an instantaneous discharge, the weight isconstructed to roll toward the fulcrum at the instant the beam bears onthe true pivot, and the beam is slightlyto accelerate the motion of theweight.

At the completion of a discharge of the weighing-receptacle the weightrests on incline m, and as the empty receptacle is overbalanced theincline starts the weight toward the end of the beam, with the resultthat all the parts are returned to the position shown in Fig. 1.

The arms 71- h are so constructed that the cut-off will close completelybefore the receptacle is opened, and remain closed while the receptacleis open. Provision is also made, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby thereceptacle is balanced on the true pivot entirely unaffected by itsconnection with the cut-off.

The opening in the cut-oif just previous to a discharge of thereceptacle should be small enough to slightly retard the smallest streamlikely to pass through the device. This will insure a uniform flow fromthe cut-off to the receptacle at each bearing of the scale-beam, and soenable accurate account to be made of the falling grain.

Bolt .9, with its set-nuts 1, enables the weight to be adjusted on thebeam, as will be readily understood.

simultaneous action of two parts moving in opposite directions it isevident that great celerity of motion is easily attained.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent- 1. In automaticgrain-scales, in combination, a bivalvular cut olf on a permanent pivot,a bivalvular weighing-receptacle pivoted in a scale-beam below thecut-off, and arms connecting the receptacle with the cutoff, as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. In automatic grain-scales, in combination, a bivalvular cut-off on apermanent pivot a scale-beam having two pivotal points, a bivalvularweighing-receptacle pivoted in the scale-beam, arms connecting thereceptaole with the cutoif, and a stop partaking of the motion of thescale-beam and adapted to temporarily prevent complete closing of thecut-off, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In automatic grain-scales, in combination, a bivalvular cut-off on apermanent pivot, a scale-beam having two pivotal points and a shiftingWeight, a bivalvular weighingreeeptacle pivoted in the scale-beam, armsconnecting the receptacle with the cut-ofi, and

a stop partaking of the motion of the scalebeam and adapted totemporarily prevent complete closing of the cut-off, as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In automatic grain-scales, in combination, cut-off c c, scale-beam gg, having pivots q and r, Weighing-receptacle it, pivoted in thescale-beam, arms h h, slotted at h h, Weight k 70 l on beam 9 g, legs (1d on the cut-off, and roller 6 on arm f, as and for the purpose setforth.

5. In automatic grain-scales, in combination with a weighing receptacle,beam curved at g, and provided with upward proj ection g the Weightcomprising the opposed disks internally recessed and the interposedsheave, and the adjusting devices 25, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In automatic grain-scales, in combination with a weighing-receptacle,beam g g g", weight k In Z, and incline m, as and for the purpose setforth.

7. In automatic grain-scales, in combination with a weighing-receptacle,beam 9 g g, weight 75 is Z, inclines m and n, and stop it, as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

JAMES LOCHER.

Attest:

I. D. WALKER, L. P. GRAHAM.

